Dielectrophoretic motion of a red blood cell in a microfluidic environment: Insights from numerical simulations

Abstract

This research delves into the dielectrophoresis (DEP) behavior of a biological cell within a sinusoidal-shaped microchannel utilizing the Maxwell stress tensor (MST) theory. A red blood cell (RBC), immersed in a viscoelastic fluid, is studied considering the Oldroyd-B model. The study aims to fill a gap in the literature by examining the DEP characteristics of RBC in a realistic geometric configuration and fluid environment, bridging the divide between theoretical modeling and practical application. This work uniquely explores the DEP behavior of an RBC within a sinusoidal microchannel in the presence of a viscoelastic flow regime, which simulates plasma properties, marking a novel contribution to the field. The two-dimensional numerical model incorporates the finite element method to accurately simulate the DEP effect and describe the behavior of the viscoelastic fluid. Validation results confirm the accuracy of the MST model. Crucially, numerical findings highlight the strong dependence of DEP force on electric potential and fluid permittivity. As a consequence of their heightened levels, there is an associated increase in both the DEP force and velocity. While the augmentation of fluid viscosity merely results in a deceleration of DEP velocity. The study provides valuable insights into the interplay between physical parameters and particle behavior, paving the way for advancements in microfluidic particle manipulation techniques.